Focusing On Travel : Michigan Covered Bridges

Monday, April 27, 2015

Deerfield Nature Park

Michigan may not be the covered bridge capitol of the mid-west, but it does have a number of covered bridges. Some are old and historic while some are new and offer visitors the opportunity to see a replica of these quaint covered bridges from the “olden days”.

A little Internet research revealed a covered bridge (not historic) in Deerfield Nature Park (about 6.5 miles west of Mount Pleasant in Isabella County, Michigan). The 591-acre park has eight miles of hiking/biking trails. Trail maps show the location of the covered bridge (over the Chippewa River). The park also has two swing bridges but our lack of time and daylight prevents us from hiking to them on this visit.

Today, it is all about finding and photographing the covered bridge. We are told the bridge is about 3/4's of a mile down one of the trails. We begin walking the Lewis Preston Trail (a two-track road). Soon, we hear the rumblings of a small creek where a metal pedestrian bridge - the Lewis Preston Suspension Bridge - allows us to cross the creek without getting our feet wet.

Lewis Preston Suspension Bridge

The trail splits and we keep veering right onto the River Loop Trail. The trail splits again and we continue veering right following the river. It is along this section of the trail that we find a small seating area with a man-made water feature gurgling down to the river. It is a peaceful spot but we can’t linger here very long. We need to find the covered bridge before we lose our daylight.

The trail splits again. I look to the right and there it is. We cross the covered bridge and spend about 15-20 minutes taking pictures and enjoying this peaceful scene.

Deerfield Nature Park Covered Bridge

For more information about Deerfield Nature Park, click on the following link:

Deerfield Nature Park

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Bridging the Years - Fallasburg Covered Bridge & Historic Village

I love Sundays – it is “our” time to do whatever we want. Today, the late afternoon sunshine suggests we take a Sunday drive … somewhere “off the beaten path”. We find ourselves near Lowell, Michigan and drive to Fallasburg County Park (established in 1928). The Flat River flows calmly through this picturesque park making it a perfect spot for some family time. Some people play games on the grassy banks of the Flat River, some bring a picnic lunch, and some do a little fishing from the shore. For us, it means photographing the park and the Fallasburg Covered Bridge.

Built in 1871, this 100’ long bridge spans the Flat River. The nearby State Historical sign gives the history of the bridge which was listed with the Michigan State Register on February 12, 1959. Despite its age (it has been rehabilitated), its condition allows it to be open to motor vehicles.

Bridge's Historic Sign

Fallasburg Covered Bridge - Late Afternoon and Early Evening

The park has informative exhibit signs about the area’s history – including the “ghost town” village of Fallasburg. Even though it is getting late, we have to check this out too.

We begin at the Fallasburg Covered Bridge which marks the entrance to this historic pioneer village. The "Fallasburg Historical District" was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on March 31, 1999.

Village's Historic Sign

Within its 42 acres are a one-room schoolhouse, farm houses, barns, and a village cemetery. The school house and Misner House are museums that are open to the public on most Sunday afternoons during the summer months. The surviving historic buildings can easily be seen during the short drive down Covered Bridge Road.